Tubby Smith is in discussions with Texas Tech to become the next basketball coach for the Red Raiders.

Two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Saturday night that Texas Tech had engaged Smith in negotiations to become its coach. The people requested anonymity because the talks are ongoing.

Billy Gillispie resigned in September after one season at Tech. Interim coach Chris Walker went 11-20 this season and just 3-15 in Big 12 play.

Smith was fired by Minnesota on Monday after six seasons. He led them to three NCAA tournaments and this year delivered the program's first tourney win — over sixth-seeded UCLA — since 1997.

New Mexico also might have interest in Smith after head coach Steve Alford left for UCLA.

Smith, 61, coached Kentucky to the 1998 NCAA title. The previously coach at Georgia and Tulsa. He was fired Monday after Minnesota was eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the Round of 32.

His Gophers teams reached the NCAA Tournament three times, winning once in four games. Overall, he was 124-81 at Minnesota and 511-226 in his career.

Smith, who won a national championship at Kentucky and also built strong programs at Tulsa and Georgia, never got the new practice facility he was long promised, and there was a feeling the program had grown stagnant under recently. He never finished higher than sixth in the Big Ten, and fans had grown impatient after expecting big things from him when he left the Wildcats to take over at Minnesota.

Tech officials also contact Southern Miss coach Donnie Tindall, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Southern Miss had a school-record 27 victories this season.